Chronic Alcohol Abuse Alters Hepatic Trace Element Concentrations-Metallomic Study of Hepatic Elemental Composition by Means of ICP-OES

Abstract

Trace element accumulation varies in different human tissues. Distribution of several elements was found to be disrupted in the case of excessive alcohol consumption, causing negative effects and exacerbation of pathological processes in the liver. In this study, we analyzed the levels and interactions between seven trace elements including calcium (Ca), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) in individuals with alcohol-use disorder (AUD) and patients without AUD (control group). The liver samples were collected during autopsy from 39 individuals with AUD and 45 control subjects. Elemental composition inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after wet mineralization by nitric acid was applied for the evaluation of the samples. Positive correlations dominated in the AUD group, mainly in relation to Mg, which strongly positively correlated with Ca, Mn, Fe; K correlated with Mn and Zn, and Cu positively correlated with K and Zn. The strongest positive correlation in the AUD group was observed for the Mg-Mn pair (r = 0.87). Significant statistical differences (p < 0.05) between the groups concerned the average concentration of Co, Cu, Mn, and Mg, which were lower in the AUD group, and Fe, the level of which was significantly higher in the AUD group compared to the control group. Evaluation of the chronic alcohol consumption effect on the accumulation of trace elements in the liver allows a better understanding of the pathological processes taking place in this organ.

Copper homeostasis dysregulation promoting cell damage and the association with liver diseases

“…The relationship between copper dyshomeostasis and liver diseases has been well confirmed, which provides a new direction for the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases such as WD, NAFLD, and HCC. Additionally, there is still some evidence that alcohol intake [78] and hepatitis C infection [79] may interact with copper dyshomeostasis in humans. However, much was hitherto less well studied especially about the mechanisms behind these pathological changes and clinical symptoms.…”

Assessment of the Concentration of 51 Elements in the Liver and in Various Parts of the Human Brain—Profiling of the Mineral Status

“…The procedure of the human tissues pre-treatment was proposed previously [30][31][32][33]. In brief, wet mineralization of each 0.3-0.5 g sample was performed via the addition of 7 mL of 69% HNO 3 ultrapure for trace metal analysis (Baker, Radnor, PA, USA), followed by heating to 190 • C in closed Teflon containers in the microwave mineralization system Multiwave 5000 (Anton Paar, Graz, Austria).…”

“…Our previous work in the field of metallomics has investigated the accumulation of seven trace elements, including Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K and Mg, Mn, Na, Zn, and Se in the liver of people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) [30,31], the elemental composition of the meninges, i.e., dura mater and arachnoid [32], the optic chiasm by ICP-MS [33] and the aqueous humor of cataract patients [34][35][36]. Other authors have also used ICP-MS to analyze selected metals.…”